Trunk compartment



Feb. 2 1937. c. H. WIDMAN 2,069,345

TRUNK CL'JMPARTMENT Filed Jan. 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. har/ea H Wfaman.

1785- 1937- c. H. WIDMAN TRUNK COMPARTMENT 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1934 INVENTOR. Char/65 M'amdfl.

Feb. 2, 1937. H, WIDMAN 2,069,345

TRUNK COMPARTMENT Filed Jan. 12, 1934 3 sheets-she t s ii iiiifiiii INVENTOR. CiyarZes 14 532774 E- l ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRUNK "COMPARTMENT Charles H. Widman, Detroit, Mich assignor to The, Murray Corporation of. America, acorporation of Delaware Application January 12,1934, JSerial No. 706,315

3 Claims.

:elements or have'been built-in as permanentpor tions of the paneling of the-vehicle. In the-present invention I provide anenlargement for "the compartment in the vehicle, which ordinarily is '10 not visible, but which cooperateswith the compartment door to 'form'an extended trunk compartmentfor thebody. The element-maybe en- .ti rely detachable from I the body-:andclosure elements or it may form -a permanent disappearing l -=-part thereof whichmaybe extended when desired to materially enlarge-the compartment.

Accordingly, the main objects of my: invention .are top-provides vehicle bodyof the two i or four 'doorsed-an type with a compartment inthe rear 20 thereof having a closure element'for completely concealing the compartment from view; to provide an-=extension which spansithe space between "the body and the element-when open'for'forming an extended trunk compartment :at :the :rear of 25 the vehicle; to provide a-closureelementfor. the space'between the door and the'body which is --removable; to provide an element as a permanent part of the which maybe extended to span the "space between the compartment 30 closure element and "the :body to enlarge the compartment-when the element is open; and, in generaL-to providemeans for extending the compartment at "the'rear of a :vehicle which may be employed only when desired, which is simple in '35 "construction and manipulatiomand' which completely seals the compartment against'the en- "trance of moisture.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention "will --be either specifically "pointed out 40 or. will become :apparent 'when referring, .for a 3 better understanding-of my inventionpto the fol-- lowingdescription taken 1 in a conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure'l is-a'perspective-view oi a:-rea.-ren'd.-of a -45 "vehicle embodying -features of my invention,

Fig. '2 is an enlarged sectional view of the 'structure'illustrated inFig. "1, taken on thepline 1- -2 thereof,

:Fig. 3 is an enlarged top .plan :view, :partly in section, of the structure illustrated in Fig. '11,

*Fig. "4 is an enlarged sectional view of the structurei illustrated in Fig. 1, taken onthe line "4-4 thereof,

5 is "an enlarged view 1 of a portion oi the F55 structure illustrated in -Fig. 2,

-'form thereof,

*Fig. 6' is a view of structure, similar to that 11-, lustrated-in Fig. 3, showing :a modified form thereof,

'Fig."7 is asectional 'view'ofa vehicle body,

taken-as on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1, showing'a 5 =modified'form of construction,

-'Fig. -.8 is an enlarged sectional-view of the structure illustrated in Fig. '7, taken on theiline :84 thereof,

Fig. 9 is a view of structure, similar to that il- 10 lustrated in Fig. "7, showing a modified form thereof,

Fig.10 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 9, taken on the line '-l0-l0-thereof.

Fig. 11 .is a viewo'f structure, similar to'that of Fig.22, showing a modified form thereof,

Fig. 12 is arr-enlarged sectional view of the structure illustratedin -Fig. 11, taken on the line 2-l 2 thereof,

'Fig. 13 is a view of the structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 11, showing a modified I4 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1-3, taken on the line l-i-l4 thereof, and

15 isan enlarged sectional view ofthe structure illustrated inFig. .13, taken on the line -l5i5 thereof.

In Fig. '1, I have'illustrated'a vehicle body ll "having a rear compartment l2 therein which is normally sealed bya compartment closure element H. The edge of the element l3 forms a. water tightsealwith thepaneling o-f the-body I I at the marginal edges when disposed in a position to be in continuation of the paneling ofthe Normallythe element maybe opened to provide for the disposition-oi small packages within the compartment andmay be constructed so :as to-supportand carry-the spare wheel of the vehicle.

When it is desired, however, to enlarge the sion --of the compartment l2 ofthe vehicle. In

Figs. 111015, I have illustrateda semi-permanent 'construction'wherein a clothmaterial 14 spans theside-spacerbetween the bodyand the element .l3when in opened .positionandpermanently secured thereto by screws l5 which extend through metal strip I6 sewed in the edges of 1 the material ll. Theimaterial-isgsecured to:a:marginal.,fiange collapsed by moving to the left ll about the compartment opening of the body and to a web I 8 along the side of the element i3. At the upper edge of the material 14, elements id of glove button fasteners are secured to engage the other element 2! thereof secured to the top compartment cover 22.

The compartment cover 22 comprises a top cloth material 23 having side extensions .24 thereon forming a unit element. rear edges the cloth material 23 is sewed over a U-shaped metal element 25 which is shaped longitudinally to conform to the shape of the vehicle body and the element l3. At spaced points the stitching is interrupted to provide pockets in which top ribs 26 are disposed to engage within the channel element 25. Additional pockets 2'! are sewed longitudinally of the cover in which form maintaining rods 28 are-disposed.

to prevent the top material from sagging between the ribs 25.

The cross ribs 26 are made flexible a portion of their length by the clock spring portion 2% which is riveted or otherwise secured to a rigid portion 3|. The elements 26 are removable and are readily inserted in the channel elements with the flexible end portions 29 disposed toward the vehicle to provide an arcuate shape to the cover element, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 5. The front edge of the cover 22 is disposed in the trough 32 at the top marginal edge of the opening and the rear edge head under the flange 33 of the element l3. When disposed in this manner it is only necessary to snap the button portions 2| on the projecting portions IS on the side element M, to completely seal the compartment when extended as illustrated in Figs. 1 and When the compartment is not in use, it is only necessary to release the button 2! and to spring the cover 22 from between the body i i and element !3 after which the ribs 26 may be removed and the cover 22 may be rolled up into a compact bundle for storage.

As a further extension of the invention, I have illustrated in Fig. 6 a different type of frame member 34 for the material 22 wherein the marginal elements 35 and 36 are provided with extended bosses 31 which are spanned by pivotal links 38 and 39. The links 39 are made of flexible material and are provided with an extension 4| which engages a pin 42 on the rigid links 33 to retain them in aligned extension. The pin 42 may be so located as to cause the links 38 and 39 to pass over center position to retain them in toggle locked relation. The two sets of links 38 and 39 illustrated in Fig. 6, are disposed to be while the two other sets of links on the right hand side of the cover (not shown) are disposed to be collapsed by moving inward to the left so as to have the top material fold in a compact bundle without the necessity of removing the cross links.

As a further extension of my invention, I have illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, a construction Wherein the compartment is enlarged by a permanent portion of the vehicle. A frame element 63 is pivoted at i t to the marginal edge of the opening for pivotal movement relative to the compartment edge and is provided with a cover 45 which is ln'ngedly supported at 48 in a position to be opened when the frame element is rt.- tained inwardly of the body and also when extended, as illustrated in Fig. '7, to enlarge the compartment.

The cover 45 is sealed relative to the frame in the conventional manner as at d5 while the At the front and tens.

do. 63 in closed position. The clamping screw 52 engages a'slot one of the links 49 when the frame is intended to lock the frame in extended position. When disposed inwardly of the body, the frame slightly extends therebeycnd, as illustr in dot and dash line in Fig. '1.

In 9 and ii), I have shown a further exof my invention wherein a cover 53 is mounted in the usual manner as in Fig. 1 while a frame element 5d is pivotally mounted on or adjacent to the door pivot. The cover 53 may be extended and sealed against the door and the marginal edge of the compartment opening, as illustrated in Fig. 10, by the rubber sealing elements and respectively. The frame 54 is provided with a hinged cover 5? at the top, hinged at and. provided with a recessed handle 59 by. wh.ch the door is latched and moved to open osition. A projecting arm 6! is secured to the body in spaced relation to the framev 55 ag a pin on the end thereof to which a o e positioning arm 63 may be latched to etain the cover in extended position. The i e 5% is retained extended, as illustrated in igure, by an offset portion in the end of n 65 which engages the rear end of the "ranie 5 to retain it in fixed relation to the cover and sealed by the element 56 to After the cover 53 has been opened, the frame may be grasped from the inside and pulled out part way after which it is engaged from the outside and moved to its outermost position. After the frame is extended, entrance is had to the compartment through the hinged cover 51 at the top thereof. The extensible frame 5 is invisible from the exterior of the vehicle when.

the cover 53 is moved to closed position with a vehicle body and may be operated independent of the frame However, when an extension of the compartment is desired, it is only necessary to pivot the frame outwardly against the door to. provide the enlarged compartment.

I have shown a further modified construction in Figs. 11 and 12, wherein the compartment door 53 operates similar to the door 53 in Fig. 9. A closure is provided for the opening between the, door and the body paneling H which is similar to the closure element 5 5 of Fig. 9 with the exception that a plurality of the portions are employed so as to fold into a compact mass for storage. This construction, like that in Fig. 9, provides metal closure which is substantially waterproof and which prevents entrance into the compartment in view of the closure element being made of metal and being locked to the door.

A plurality of nest U-shaped elements 64 are aocasau nested relation out of contact with the compartment floor which is elevated to clear a gas tank 59 and which would prevent the unit element 54 of Fig. 9 from being employed. It will be noted in Fig. 12 that the joining portions 66 of the elements 64 extend along the side so as to effectively seal the covering against the entrance of moisture.

In Figs. 13 to 15, I have shown a modified form of constructure wherein a plurality of side elements H are interengaged by projecting portions 65, as illustrated in Fig. 14, and which may be constructed to have the outer element secured to the door and the remainder of the elements pivoted on the common pivot 65 for the door. Upon opening the door, the elements H are moved outwardly therewith to close the side of the compartment opening.

I have illustrated a flexible metal top element 12 which may be rolled over the roller 13 or moved inwardly of the compartment in a wellknown manner when released from the door. The lock 14 of the door may be employed to engage a tang or side of an aperture on the outer edge of the top for locking the compartment. When the lock is turned to unlatched position the top may be rolled up on the roller 13 and through the release of the arm 63, the door 53 may be closed, while moving the elements H to nested position. The side edges of the top 12 may be provided with rubber strips 15, as illustrated in Fig. 13, for the purpose of forming a seal. with the inwardly directed flanges 16 on the elements II.

By this means a thief-proof trunk compartment is provided at the rear of vehicle bodies which may be disposed out of view and which is efiectively sealed against entrance of moisture. This construction materially enhances the vehicle body and provides a trunk compartment through the removable or extensible frame. The frame may be removable entirely from the body or may be hinged inwardly of the compartment to be invisible or substantially invisible from the exterior of the vehicle.

While I have described and illustrated several embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vehicle body having a, compartment at the rear thereof defined by the marginal edge of the paneling, a frame extending beyond said edge and pivoted for outward movement, a door pivoted on said frame, and means for sealing said frame at said marginal edge.

2. A vehicle body having a compartment at the rear thereof defined by the marginal edge of the paneling, a frame extending beyond said edge and pivoted for outward movement, a door carried by said frame, means for sealing said frame at said marginal edge, and means for securing said frame when disposed within the compartment and when extended therefrom.

3. The combination with a vehicle body having a sloping rear portion forming a compartment at the rear thereof, of a door for said compartment likewise sloping when in closed position, means for limiting the opening movement of said door to substantially a vertical position, and a fabric cover spanning said door and body and extending along the sides to form a closure for said opening between said door and body, laterally extending ribs in said cover, and longitudi nally extending reinforcing elements likewise in said cover, said laterally and longitudinally ex tending members cooperating with each other to provide a desired form for said cover when disposed between said door and body.

CHARLES H. WIDMAN. 

